The Hollywoodbets Dolphins and North West Dragons were level pegging at the end of day one of their Division One CSA 4-Day match in Durban, while weather heavily disrupted the other two games.
The Dafabet Warriors and Momentum Multiply Titans only managed to get in 32 overs on day one in their rain disrupted match in Gqeberha, while the Gbets Rocks and DP World Lions game in Paarl saw the first day washed out.
HONOURS EVEN BETWEEN DOLPHINS AND DRAGONS AT CLOSE ON DAY ONE
The North West Dragons battled back nicely to make it honours even at the close of play on day one of their Division One CSA 4-Day clash against the Hollywoodbets Dolphins at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead on Sunday, with the hosts ending the day on 322/7.
The Dolphins looked to be taking control of the game just before tea, but a wicket on the stroke of tea followed by three in the day's final session meant that it was an even day between the two sides in the end.
Jason Smith struck a wonderful unbeaten century for the home side, finishing the day on 118 off 214 balls (14x4; 1x6) and he will resume play on Monday morning with Prenelan Subrayen (1no) looking to get their side to a strong total.
After tea the Dolphins resumed on 180/4, but new man Grant Roelofsen (7) didn’t last long before Eldred Hawken had him caught by Khanya Cotani, with the score on 196/5.
Andile Phehlukwayo (28) then shared in a 53-run sixth-wicket stand with Smith, before he was caught by Christopher Britz off the bowling of JP King.
Jon Jon Smuts (42) and Smith then combined for a 71-run seventh-wicket partnership, with Smith reaching his century along the way, and just as they looked to be ending the day on top, Smuts was bowled by Wesley Marshall to reduce them to 320/7.
In the post lunch session the Dolphins only scored 70 runs, but it was steady going as they consolidated their strong position.
Khaya Zondo (79) became the only wicket of the session when he was trapped LBW by Britz, leaving Smith, who had brought up a solid half century during the session, and Roelofsen at the crease.
In the morning session the Dolphins battled back from a poor start to put themselves in a decent position on 110/3 at lunch.
At the start of play the hosts won the toss and chose to bat, but found themselves in early strife when opener Sarel Erwee fell for a fifth-ball duck, caught by Grant Mokoena off the bowling of Hawken.
Marques Ackerman (1) followed shortly after with him caught by Hawken off the bowling of Duan Jansen, leaving the hosts in early trouble on 5/2.
Tshepang Dithole (35) and Zondo then steadied the ship with a 59-run third-wicket partnership, before Dithole was trapped LBW by King with the Dolphins on 64/3.
Smith then joined Zondo and they eased their side to lunch, with Zondo bringing up a well-played half century along the way.
HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Sarel Erwee, Tshepang Dithole, Marques Ackerman, Grant Roelofsen (wk), Khaya Zondo, Jon Jon Smuts, Jason Smith, Andile Phehlukwayo, Prenelan Subrayen, Odirile Modimokoane, Daryn Dupavillon
NORTH WEST DRAGONS: Lesego Senokwane, Grant Mokoena, Shaylin Pillay, Christopher Britz, Heino Khun, Khanya Cotani, Delano Potgieter, Duan Jansen, Eldred Hawken, Renaldo Meyer, Juan James
WEATHER CAUSES EARLY END TO DAY AS WARRIORS STRUGGLE AGAINST TITANS
Poor weather saw the players go off for bad light shortly before tea before rain settled in, in the afternoon with the Dafabet Warriors struggling on 90/3 against the Momentum Multiply Titans at the close of play in their Division One CSA 4-Day match at St George’s Park on Sunday.
The Warriors had resumed their first innings after lunch on 33/2, but were soon in further trouble when Diego Rosier (16) was caught by Sibonelo Makhanya off the bowling of Donovan Ferreira, leaving them on 52/3.
Matthew Breetzke (35no) then tried to revive the Warriors innings along with Rudi Second (10no), only for Second to retire hurt, and should he not be able to bat again it means the home side is essentially four wickets down.
Sinethemba Qeshile (5no) will now hope to build a strong partnership with Breetzke on day two, if the weather clears and allows the teams to resume the match.
At the start of play a wet outfield delayed the toss, with the Titans then winning it and choosing to field first against the hosts.
It looked to be the correct call as the visitors struck early, with opener Wihan Lubbe (3) caught by Neil Brand off the bowling of Corbin Bosch with the score 9/1.
That became 27/2 when Lesiba Ngoepe (9) was caught and bowled by Lizaad Williams leaving the Warriors in a spot of bother, with Rosier and Breetzke taking the hosts to lunch without further trouble.
DAFABET WARRIORS: Lesiba Ngoepe, Wihan Lubbe, Diego Rosier, Matthew Breetzke, Rudi Second, Tristan Stubbs, Sinethemba Qeshile, Beyers Swanepoel, Glenton Stuurman, Ziyaad Abrahams, Siya Plaatjie
MOMENTUM MULTIPLY TITANS: Neil Brand, Modiri Litheko, Jiveshan Pillay, Sibonelo Makhanya (capt), Dewald Brevis, Donovan Ferreira, Corbin Bosch, Musa Twala, Junior Dala, Lizaad Williams, Aya Gqamane
ROCKS V LIONS DAY ONE WASHED OUT
The first day of the Division One CSA 4-Day encounter between the Gbets Rocks and DP World Lions at Boland Park was completely washed out, with a decision made before lunch to call the day off on Sunday.
The Lions are in with a shout of the 4-Day title having moved up to fourth on the log and will be keen to pick up a second win on the bounce against the hosts, but the sixth-placed Rocks will have other ideas as they have yet to win in the competition and will be desperate to get a positive result.
GBETS ROCKS: TBA
DP WORLD LIONS: TBA